The album has received positive reviews from critics, and Metacritic has assigned it an average score of 80/100 based on 26 critics.[5] Dave Simpson for The Guardian called it a "beautifully understated epic" and rewarded the album 4 out of 5 stars.[6] Johnathan K. Dick, writing for Consequence of Sound stated that, "The Wilderness proves that Explosions in the Sky aren't stuck in any creative rut." and gave the album a B+.[4] Paul Simpson for AllMusic gave the album 4 stars and said, "On The Wilderness, Explosions in the Sky deconstruct and rebuild their sound from the ground up, giving it a revitalized sense of urgency and resulting in some of their most dynamic work yet." [3]Pitchfork rewarded the album 8/10 and said it is "their best since The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place." [7]

However, some critics gave the album mixed reviews. Mojo, in their May 2016 issue, stated that "Although recognisably, and powerfully, the work of Explosions In The Sky this is now a band whose music undulates."

The cover and insert artwork are parts of a painting entitled "8th and Main" by Jacob van Loon.[10]